After 18 weeks, we finally have the official NFL playoff bracket. The final day of the 2022 regular season was a wild one, as the Miami Dolphins clinched the final wild-card spot in the AFC with an 11-6 win over the New York Jets, while the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers fell short of the postseason.
Over on the NFC side of things, the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the No. 1 seed in the conference with their win over the New York Giants, while the Seattle Seahawks kept their postseason hopes alive with a win over the rival Los Angeles Rams in overtime. They needed a Detroit Lions win over the Green Bay Packers on "Sunday Night Football," and got just that thanks to a couple of gutsy play calls late in the fourth quarter from Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
It was truly a Sunday to remember in the NFL as the playoff picture pieced itself together throughout the night. Relive all the action in the live blog below, including the Dolphins' thrilling win over the Jets, and the dramatic overtime finish in Seattle.
NFC playoff picture:
1 Eagles
2 49ers
3 Vikings
4 Bucs
5 Cowboys
6 Giants
7 Packers or Seahawks
Wild Card Weekend would look like:
Giants at Vikings
Cowboys at Bucs
SEA or GB at 49ers
It is GOOD.
Seahawks can clinch a postseason berth with a Packers loss tonight. What a game.
FINAL 19-16, Seattle.
Jason Myers with a chance for redemption. A 32-yard game-winning attempt to keep Seattle's postseason hopes alive.
Seahawks are piecing together a game-winning drive. 47 yards on five plays. Sparked by a big 20-yard run from Walker. Now around the L.A. 18-yard line.
Wow Quandre Diggs pointed the ball right at former Seahawk Bobby Wagner after the pick. No flag thrown.
WOW. Baker Mayfield underthrew Van Jefferson, and it's intercepted by Quandre Diggs. Athletic pick. Went from potential game-winning score to a turnover.
In case you were wondering about a tie ...
Seahawks tie =
Lions in with tie/win over GB
Packers in with win over DET
Seahawks with a quick three-and-out, plus Geno Smith looked like he committed intentional grounding.
Seahawks get the ball first at their own 28-yard line.
OFF THE RIGHT UPRIGHT!! WE ARE GOING TO OVERTIME
Three seconds remaining. Jason Myers on for a 46-yard game-winning field goal. Rams call their final timeout.
Geno is back in the game, he's OK. Seahawks pick up 15 yards on top of the 25 from the run!
Seahawks start from the 20-yard line. 56 seconds, no timeouts. First play goes 10 yards to Johnson. Geno Smith then runs for a huge gain but is injured on the sideline!
Seahawks defense stands tall and forces a three-and-out. The Rams will run the clock down before the punt. Seattle has 0 timeouts.
Oh my. Taylor Rapp stops Kenneth Walker on third and goal. A shotgun run in that situation is going to draw the ire of some. Field goal unit on, and the 22-yard try is good.
16 plays, 82 yards. It's a tie game, but that possession didn't feel like a win. 2:19 for Sean McVay and Baker Mayfield to put together a game-winning drive.
Gamble pays off, as Walker gets nine yards on fourth-and-1.
Seahawks look like they are going to go for it on fourth and short from the 22-yard line. They call a timeout to think about it. It appears Carroll may turn down the game-tying field goal. 4:32 remaining.
Rams pick up a running into the kicker penalty on fourth-and-short. Controversial call since it looked like the defender was shoved into the punter. Could be a massive call, but Seattle's offense hasn't exactly looked great as of late.
Both the Rams and Seahawks offenses have fallen apart in this final quarter. Rams punt with 9:35 remaining in the game.
Sam Howell is balling against the Cowboys 😳
Elsewhere around the league, the 49ers really opened it up against the Cardinals. They are up 25 points late in the third quarter.
The Commanders are driving against the Cowboys, they have a seven points lead with just over 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Chargers are down four points to the Broncos with 4 minutes remaining in the third quarter. For some reason Brandon Staley is still playing his starters. Mike Williams and Joey Bosa already exited with injuries.
Seahawks go three-and-out. Did not like the play call on third down in the swing pass to Dallas. Maybe Smith was forced to go there because of pressure around the edge, but either way, Seattle had to punt.
11:58 remaining in the fourth quarter. Rams up three points.
Seahawks defense gets a stop, and they will take over at their own 17-yard line. Geno Smith needs to have a short memory after his latest mistake.
At the end of three quarters, the Rams hold a three-point lead, 16-13. Rams also in enemy territory moving the ball. Seattle's season comes down to this quarter.
Geno Smith with another easy interception to Jalen Ramsey. Pressure was on him but he just missed his target.
